Mithun Chakraborty remembers Mrinal Sen on the director’s birth centenary

In his early career, Mithun Chakraborty faced rejection due to his dark skin colour. However, according to the actor, his dark complexion also changed his life. He started his acting career with Mrinal Sen’s Mrigayaa in 1976. Then the film Disco Dancer in 1982 strengthened his ground. He reminisced about those bright memories on Mrinal Sen's birth centenary.

Unlike the other actors, Mithun did not have a bright skin color. To make up for this, he concentrated on action and dance. However, this skin made him attractive in the later days. 

Once he thought that he could not compete with the fair-skinned heroes. He even thought of acting as a villain. Mithun said in an interview, “I had an inferiority complex. I thought that I could not be a hero, but could start my career as a villain. I went to the film institute and came back with proper training.” 

He further added, “I thought I could dance well and was comfortable in the action scenes. I wanted the audience to not look at my skin and rather see these aspects. I made my dancing style.” 

In Mrigaya, someone with dark skin was needed. Mithun said jokingly, “Mrinalda took me since I looked like a proper tribal man.” The film was acclaimed and Mithun got the National Award. 

After that, Mithun did many films in Bollywood and gained back confidence. He said, “After Surakkha in 1981, I understood that I was on the right track. I felt that I needed to make a long journey since making this skin color acceptable was difficult.” He said that at the beginning, his films did not do well in north India. Then gradually times changed. Mithun became an attractive Bengali Babu. 

Mithun said 'My skin color became my USP'. 

However, the actor does not want any biopic to be made based on his life. He thinks that a story of so much struggle and rejection will break the hearts of aspiring actors.